The directive was issued during an emergency meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards' PCD19 Cosmetic Sectional Committee, to which HSI/India was a special invitee, and marks the beginning of the end of acute oral toxicity (lethal poisoning) and oral mucosal irritation animal testing for cosmetic purposes in India.

"It's unthinkable that in this day and age, animals are still choking on cosmetic chemicals in decades-old poisoning tests while companies choke on their own inertia in switching to a cruelty-free business model," she added.

From now on, companies in India wishing to test cosmetic products or ingredients for these specific effects will have to submit a non-animal testing proposal to the DCGI for approval.

Eventually, it is expected that the Indian cosmetic standard IS4011 will be amended to reflect the changes as directed by DCGI.

HSI's 'Be Cruelty-Free' campaign, the largest-ever global effort to end animal testing for cosmetics, has worked with various Legislative Assemblies and Members of Parliament in India who have written to the CDSCO and BIS in support, asking for an end to cosmetics testing on animals.

To show your support for an end to animal testing for cosmetics in India and around the world, citizens can sign a Be Cruelty-Free pledge on the HSI website or or just give a missed call to 080-4931-1223.